Systems and methods for injection of bio-diesel into a gas turbine combustor

Abstract

Certain embodiments may include systems and methods that comprise a first unit controller associated with a first gas turbine and a second unit controller associated with a second gas turbine. A first unit human machine interface is coupled to the first unit controller and is operable to provide first blend information to the first unit controller. Additionally, a second unit human machine interface is coupled to the second unit controller and is operable to provide second blend information to the second unit controller. A splitter panel, coupled to the first unit controller and the second unit controller, is operable to transfer control of a plurality of common skids between the first unit controller and the second unit controller. The transfer of control may occur by toggling a plurality of relays housed in the splitter panel. A plurality of common skids is operable to provide biofuel to a plurality of injection skids. The plurality of common skids may comprise a heating skid, a filtration skid, and a pumping skid shared by the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for injecting biofuel into a gas turbine system, comprising:
 receiving, from a controller, first blend information associated with a first gas turbine having a first gas turbine control panel; 
 receiving, from the controller, second blend information associated with a second gas turbine having a second gas turbine control panel; 
 providing one or more fuel injection commands to a single common skid to provide a first blend of biofuel to the first gas turbine and a second blend of biofuel to the second gas turbine, the first blend of biofuel having a different blend ratio of biofuel to distillate than the second blend of biofuel, wherein the one or more fuel injection commands are selectively routed by a splitter control panel, and the one or more fuel injection commands are provided by the splitter control panel to a primary control panel selected between the first gas turbine control panel and the second gas turbine control panel; 
 updating a secondary control panel, selected between the first gas turbine control panel and the second gas turbine control panel, with the one or more fuel injection commands issued by the primary control panel; 
 transferring control of the single common skid from the primary control panel to the secondary control panel; and 
 providing the first blend of biofuel to the first gas turbine concurrently with the second blend of biofuel to the second gas turbine. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single common skid comprises a heating skid, a filtration skid, and a pumping skid shared by the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring control comprises toggling a plurality of relays housed in the primary control panel. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring operational parameters during injection of biofuel into the gas turbine system. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein failure of an operational parameter results in an automatic shutdown of a biofuel injection system without interfering with a regular operation of the gas turbine system operating on liquid fuel. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring control from the primary control panel to the secondary control panel while the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine are operating. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising switching control to the secondary control panel during startup or shut down of the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the secondary control panel in a same state as the primary control panel. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein commands from the secondary control panel to the single common skid are not executed by a biofuel injection system except for those commands issued to a pump associated with the secondary control panel on a pump skid. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the primary control panel and the secondary control panel are coupled via a communication data protocol that provides signals to maintain the secondary control panel in the same state as the primary control panel. 
     
     
       11. A system for injecting biofuel into a gas turbine system, comprising:
 a controller operable to execute stored commands, the commands are operable to:
 receive, from a controller, first blend information associated with a first gas turbine having a first gas turbine control panel; 
 receive, from the controller, second blend information associated with a second gas turbine having a second gas turbine control panel; 
 provide one or more fuel injection commands to a single common skid to provide a first blend of biofuel to the first gas turbine and a second blend of biofuel to the second gas turbine, the first blend of biofuel having a different blend ratio of biofuel to distillate than the second blend of biofuel, wherein the one or more fuel injection commands are selectively routed by a splitter control panel, and the one or more fuel injection commands are provided by the splitter control panel to a primary control panel selected between the first gas turbine control panel and the second gas turbine control panel; 
 update a secondary control panel, selected between the first gas turbine control panel and the second gas turbine control panel, with the one or more fuel injection commands issued by the primary control panel; 
 transfer control of the single common skid from the primary control panel to the secondary control panel; and 
 provide the first blend of biofuel to the first gas turbine concurrently with the second blend of biofuel to the second gas turbine. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the single common skid comprises a heating skid, a filtration skid, and a pumping skid shared by the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the commands operable to transfer control further comprise commands operable to toggle a plurality of relays housed in the primary control panel. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the commands are further operable to monitor operational parameters during injection of biofuel into the gas turbine system. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein failure of an operational parameter results in an automatic shutdown of the biofuel injection system without interfering with a regular operation of the gas turbine system operating on liquid fuel. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the commands are further operable to transfer control from the primary control panel to the secondary control panel while the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine are operating. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the commands are further operable to switch control to the secondary control panel during startup or shut down of the first gas turbine and the second gas turbine. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the commands are further operable to maintain the secondary control panel in a same state as the primary control panel. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein commands from the secondary control panel to the single common skid are not executed by the biofuel injection system except for those commands issued to a pump associated with the secondary control panel on a pump skid. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the primary control panel and the secondary control panel are coupled via a communication data protocol that provides signals to maintain the secondary control panel in a same state as the primary control panel.